Abuja — The Ministry of Niger-Delta Affairs has said the Federal Government was committed to the construction of the Niger Delta coastal road that will transverse the entire states of Niger Delta from Calabar to Lagos.

The ministry has therefore inaugurated a high powered committee headed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Yahaya Abdullahi.

Other members include President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Registrar of COREN, representative of Pearl Consultants, Director of Works, Federal Ministry of Works, Director of Infrastructure in the ministry, among others.

The committee was charged with conducting a detailed analysis of the design as produced by Pearl Consultants and make appropriate recommendations to the ministry.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, said during a roundtable discussion which followed a presentation on the design of the Niger Delta coastal road by Pearl Consultants, that the completion of the road will surely open up the region for the needed socio-economic development.

Pearl Consultants had been engaged over the years by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the design of the road.

Orubebe reiterated the completion of the road which will surely open up the region for the needed socio-economic development.

He observed that there may have been some mix up initially on whose responsibility it was to construct the Niger Delta coastal road, however, with the late president in counsel directed the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to handle the construction of the road as well as other interstate roads in the region.

"Because of the lacuna, I had to invite the consultant handling the project, Registrar of COREN, President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers due to the real engineering engagement required because of the terrain of the Niger Delta," he stated.

The Minister also disclosed that it was the instance of the President that this meeting was convened and charged with resolving whatever all niggling issues and convey such resolutions immediately to Mr. President.

Reiterating the importance of the Niger Delta coastal roads, Elder Orubebe said that when completed it would not only enhance the economic well being of the troubled region, but it will also aid the amnesty programme by creating jobs for several youths of the region.

He said that these youths could be gainfully engaged as unskilled and skilled labour force as a way of disengaging them from unbecoming agitations.

Minister, while expressing how valuable the project is to Mr. President, also recapped that with all hands on deck, the construction of the roads, no matter the challenges is an achievable venture. He stated that the Ministry had executed an assignment of such magnitude in the past, and as such will not be afraid to attain such lofty height with the coastal road network.